Chrysanthemum plant named Chic

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Chic and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 7 cm. at maturity; uniform eight week flowering response; medium plant height; upright branching pattern; tolerance of low winter 13° C. minimum temperatures; and tolerance of high summer temperatures of 24° C. nights, and 38° C. days under high light environments.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat. named Chic.

Chic is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars for pinched spray pot mum programs having daisy capitulum type, purple floret color, eight week flowering response and the ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year round programs. Such traits in combination were not present or required improvement in previously available commercial cultivars.

Chic was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. in 1980. The female parent was an unnamed seedling identified as 79121007, originated by the present inventor from a hybridization of unnamed seedling 76025024 and Circus, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,188. The male parent of Chic was an unnamed seedling identified as 79121001, originated from the same cross.

Chic was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett on July 31, 1981 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Chic was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in October 1981 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated February 1982 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Chic are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Chic has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light tensity and day length. The observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Ontario, Canada under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Chic which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form.

(2) Daisy capitulum type.

(3) Purple ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 7 cm. at maturity.

(5) Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Medium plant height (requiring 2 long day weeks prior to pinch and short days, and 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, the first at 14, the second at 21 days after the beginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 25 to 35 cm. in 6" pots).

(7) Upright branching pattern.

(8) Low temperature tolerance of 13° C. minimum.

(9) High temperature tolerance of 24° C. nights and 38° C. days under high light environments.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical leaf and inflorescence characteristics of Chic. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of two plants of Chic grown as pinched spray pot mums, with colors being as accurate as possible with renditions of this type. The plant on the left depicts true flower color (immature) at prime marketable stage, and the plant on the right illustrates mature flower color one week later. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Chic. Sheet 3 shows the leaves of Chic in three stages of growth (mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to Chic is Circus. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Chic to those same characteristics of Circus.

Similar traits are the plant height, capitulum form, type and diameter. Chic has deeper ray floret color, more upright branching pattern, faster response time, and superior tolerance of both high and low temperatures for bud initiation and development. Both Chic and Circus have abundant pollen. Chic has a smaller diameter of disc.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined between 10:00 A.M. and 10:15 A.M. on Dec. 1, 1983 under 150 foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat. cv Chic.

Commercial.--Daisy spray pot mum.

I. Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum.--Form: Flat. Type: Daisy. Diameter across face: 5 to 7 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets.--Color (General Tonality From a Distance of Three Meters): Red-Purple. Color (upper surface): 61A (immature) to 64 A,B (mature): 61A and 64A-B. Color (under surface): 72B-C.

C. Corolla of disc florets.--Color (mature): 5 B-C including pollen. Color (immature): 144B-C. Shape: Oblong. Rounded tip.

C. Corolla of disc florets.--Color (mature): 5 B-C including pollen. Color (immature): 144B-C.

D. Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present disc florets only; abundant pollen. Gynoecium: Present both ray and disc florets.

II. Plant:

A. General appearance.--Height: Medium. Branching Pattern: Upright.

B. Foliage.--Color (abaxial): 147A. Color (adaxial): 147B. Shape: Moderately lobed. Deeply serrated.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARISON OF CHIC AND CIRCUS                                                  ______________________________________                                                  RAY         CAPITULUM   BRANCH-                                                FLORET      FORM AND    ING                                           CULTIVAR COLOR       TYPE        PATTERN                                       ______________________________________                                         CHIC     PURPLE      FLAT        UPRIGHT                                                            DAISY                                                     CIRCUS   LAVENDER    FLAT        SEMI                                                               DAISY       SPREAD-                                                                        ING                                           ______________________________________                                                  DIA-                                                                           METER               FLOW-                                                      ACROSS              ER-    TEMP-                                               FACE                ING RE-                                                                               ERATURE                                             OF CA-    PLANT     SPONSE TOLER-                                     CULTIVAR PITULUM   HEIGHT    PERIOD ANCE                                       ______________________________________                                         CHIC     5 to 7 cm.                                                                               MEDIUM    8 WEEK 13° C. -                                               30 to            UNIFORM                                                       35 cm.           24°, 38° C. -                                                    UNIFORM                                    CIRCUS   5 to 7 cm.                                                                               MEDIUM    9 WEEK 13° C. -                                               30 to            UNEVEN                                                        45 cm.           24°, 38° C. -                                                    SLOW,                                                                          COLOR                                                                          DULLS                                      ______________________________________                                         COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS A                                          PINCHED SPRAY POT MUM IN SALINAS,                                              CALIFORNIA AND LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA                                     ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., plant named Chic, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 7 cm. at maturity; uniform eight week flowering response; medium plant height; upright branching pattern; tolerance of low winter 13° C. minimum temperatures; and tolerances of high summer temperatures of 24° C. nights, and 38° C. days under high light environments. 